Bicycle.



No. 667,l7l. Patented Jan. 29,.I90l. C.- CHRISTENSEN. BICYCLE.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 1900.) N 0 M o d a I WITNESSES 5 ter bearing.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN CHRISTENSEN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of fLetters Patent-No. 667,171, dated January 29, 1901. Application filed August 20, 1900. Serial No. 27,407 (No model.)

5 and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles;

and I do d'ecla re the following to be a full,clear,- and exact description of the invention, such.

as will enable others skilled in the art to which to itappertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad tothe accompanying drawlngs, and to the figures of reference marked there-- on, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in I5 bicycles, my object being to-lessen or overcome the difficulties of propelling machines of.this class while passing over rough or uneven surfaces and to this end the invention consists of the features, arrangements,

26 and combinations hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,

" in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section taken 2 5 through the rear frame-bar, the center bear-.

ing, and the crank-shaft of a bicycle equipped with my improvements. Fig. 2'is a detail View of the crank-shaft shown in connection 'with my improvements.

The same referencecharacters indicate the same parts in both views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the center bearing, 6 the crank-shaft, and 7 the tubular frame-bar, extending upwardly from the cen- In the top of the tube 7 is inserted a case 9, containing a coil-spring 10,

whose lower extremity rests on the bottom of the case. The upper extremity of the spring 10 is engaged by a collar 8, formed on the 4p saddle -post 8, which extends downwardly through the bottom of the case 9.

extremity of the saddle-postis pivotallyconnected, as shown at 12, with the upper extremities of two links 13 and 14, whose lower extremities are respectively connected with two arms 15 and 15, loosely mounted on the crank-shaft and projecting in opposite direc- 'tions. To the extremities of the arms 15 and 15- are pivotally connected two spring-held ogs 16 and 17, adapted to engage aratchetwheel 18, fast on the crank-shaft 6. The two dogs 16 and 17 engage The lowerthe ratchet-wheel on opposite sides, one projecting upwardly and the other downwardly; As the seat post moves downwardly in response to the weight of the rider both links 13 and 1d are given a correspon din g movement. acting on the ratchet'wheel 18, aids in rotat- Hence the dog 17,

ing the shaft 6, while the dog 16 moves downwardly one or more teeth on the wheel. Again, as the saddle-post moves upwardly the dog 16acts to aid the rotation of the crankshaft, while'the dog 17 moves upwardly to a corresponding extent on the wheel. This operation is repeated every time the saddle-post moves down and up in the tubular frame-bar 7, thus assisting the rider and neutralizing thedifliculties incident to propelling the ordinary bicycle over rough or uneven surfaces. Having thus described my invention,'what I claim is In a bicycle or similarmachine the combi nation with a crank-shaft, the-center bearing and the rear frame-bar connected with said bearing and open at its lower extremity, of a saddle-post located in the frame-bar, a spring surrounding the saddle-post within the framebar, its lower extremity engaging a stop on the bar, while its upper extremity engagesa stop on the post which projects below the spring, a ratchet-wheel fast on the crankshaft, two arms loosely mounted on the crankshaft and projecting in different directions,

two links whose upper extremities are connected with the lower extremity of the saddlepost, and whose lower extremities are respectively connected with the arms of the crankshaft, and dogs respectively mounted on th e arms of the crank-shaft, one dog projecting upwardly and the other downwardly, and arranged to engage the ratchet-wheel on opposite sides, one acting to turnthe Wheel as the seat-post moves upwardly and-the. other to perform the same function when the seai' -postv moves downwardly, the links, the ratchet wheel, the arms and the dogs carried thereby, being concealed within the center bearing and the lower part of the frame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 

